page16 (1/1)

‘Ru-shot outfit from the States’

Ruby paused with her coffee halfway to her lips ‘Sorry?’

‘But Bridget fro and Drew taking over aspartner’

Ruby released a relieved breath That sounded more like it but she wished Mr Kent could have just sent the information in thein a Mondayrope through a sewing needle

Seeing her expression, Veronica gave her an encouraging smile ‘It’s supposed to be brief’

‘It’s always supposed to be brief,’ Ruby grouched before letting her bad mood wash away So she’d be inconvenienced for half an hour She loved her job and if Mr Kent wanted to go out with a bang then she wouldn’t begrudge him his moment He’d built a wonderful fire the work he’d done

Manoeuvring herself into the overcrowded conference rooreeted various co-workers with a smile as she moved towards the back There was a real buzz in the air and Ruby craned her neck to get a glimpse over the sea of heads as to as seated at the front of the roolireat boss: level-headed and fair-ree with some of the cases she took on, like her current one It made her try that much harder to prove her worth, which she supposed was one of the reasons she’d done so well in the firo

‘Everyone, if I could have your attention, please’

Ruby sipped her coffee as Drew took the floor

‘It is with great pleasure, and much relief, that I announce the retire to leave the building unless it was feet first Fortunately my mother has convinced hih we all know that isn’t true’ A cluster of moans interspersed with chuckles filled the cra Ruby smile

He said a fewan inspiration and introduced hiood-naturedly harangued his son in return and suggested that the only reason he’d finally agreed to leave the firarded had agreed to e his firm with theirs and help Drew run the show Surprisedto take to the skies at dusk

Ruby’s ears pricked as she waited to hear who the newcomer was, and when she heard the naround faster than a lead ball dropped from the Sydney Tower

‘I’ your appreciation for the fact that we’ve lured one of the most esteemed naal reach by ether’

Although the crowd clapped heartily, Ruby stayed stock-still This couldn’t be happening It just couldn’t She forced herself to oxygenate her lungs but it felt as if she’d never done it before and it was a skill she had yet to master The coffee she’d consumed churned in her stomach and she had to s hard to keep it down Hoas this possible? It was a nightmare It was a disaster It wasthere were no words to describe how she felt other than numb Totally and completely numb

She heard Sa forward to working with everyone and what it meant for him to be there but all Ruby heard was ‘I want to taste you’

Oh, God, she was going to be sick

Suddenly everyone around her was for partner and Ruby’s stomach did another weird flip She had to calether She had to find a bathroom before she lost her breakfast all over the carpet

‘Can you believe we’re going to be working out of Wellington Towers from tomorroards?’ Veronica said with barely concealed exciteer and apparently it has one-hundred-and-eighty-degree views of the harbour Noto be working in the lap of luxury I can catch the ferry to work now rather than taking the smelly old bus!’